by Al Hargus

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

AL WOULD YOU SAY JUST A FEW WORDS?

I enjoy talking! Those of you who have seen (and heard) me on the field, know that I am never at a loss for words. I have been handed the microphone at many Midwest kite events, usually playing the role of Master of Ceremonies

The first really big kite festival I ever attended was the AKA Grand Nationals in Detroit Michigan in 1982. The Detroit convention was the first kite event where I really noticed the announcers and what they were saying. I had attended kite festivals in Chicago before, and they had sound systems as well, but they were usually used by local Disc Jockeys or sponsor spokespersons, never an actual kite flier.

Hank and Nancy Zerlag were the National Convention Co-chairpersons at this event. They were also the driving force behind the new local kite group the 5/20 Kite Club. Hank and Nancy were everywhere, and seemed to be doing everything at once. They really worked hard at that convention!

Nancy spent much of her field time at the microphone. She knew most, if not all, of the fliers out on the field and she was very knowledgeable about the kites that were flying. I learned quite a lot about kites and the event just standing out on the field, watching the activities and the kites and listening to Nancy tell me all about it. (Rule #2: KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!)

One thing that Nancy said quite frequently was the phrase, "Remember, it really doesn't matter." Some of this was Nancy's way of relieving her own stress, an integral element of a very busy event. But it also told the rest of us not to take ourselves too seriously. It was, after all, just kite flying, and that even if things were not going according to plan we should still have fun.

SO WHO IS GONNA TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON?

My first "official" amplified voice experience was in Chicago at our first Sky Circus Kite Festival. I used a battery powered jury-rigged P.A. system of my own design. It didn't work very well and it wasn't very loud, BUT I had a microphone. What do I say now? I recalled Nancy Zerlag from Detroit! I knew almost all the fliers on the field and I knew what kites they had. All I had to do was start telling the "civilians" (that's the non-flying, spectator public) about that!

I had a pretty good time on the mike at that event, BUT I learned a ton of things about announcing that I had never thought of before. First, you really have a large degree of control over the event when you're the announcer. The spectators look where you tell them to, the contestants and fliers go where you say they should (or shouldn't) be. Events take place (or don't) when you announce (or forget to announce) the schedule.

People seem to believe that the announcer knows EVERYTHING about all that is going on at a kite event. Sometimes that's true and sometimes not. One of the things I decided at that first event as announcer and Master of Ceremonies is that I LIKED IT! Some fliers come to kite events to fly and show off kites that they have worked hard to make themselves. (Accomplishment!) Some fliers come to kite events to show their skills as dual-line or quad-line fliers, to demonstrate their practiced maneuvers and routines. (Accomplishments!)

When I work at a kite event as the announcer and master of ceremonies I have to prepare and practice just like all the other fliers. I have to do and say things just right and at the right moment in order for the entire event to be successful. I have a lot of control over all that happens, both good and bad. People talk after an event is over and say that it was a really good event, really well run and organized. I feel the same sense of achievement as any dual or quad line contestant, the same as any kite maker. I have accomplished something on the kite field that others saw (or heard) and appreciated. I made it happen. Isn't that what most all of us want anyway!

ARE WE JUST GONNA YELL REALLY LOUD OR WHAT?

Obviously an announcer needs a public address system. OR DO THEY? At one of my first kite announcing events the P.A. system was not very good. It didn't work properly before anyone arrived and it never worked right the entire day. The event was the U.S.A.F. Museum Kite festival in Dayton, Ohio back in 1987. This was one of the Museum's first encounters with kite fliers and a festival. How were they supposed to know that we wanted to play music, and also be heard over the system across more than 600 acres of flying field?

I knew that I had to get some kinds of information to the festival fliers. We had events scheduled and things to tell them. What could I do? JUST YELL LOUD! And that is actually what I did! I also used runners. I gave announcements to runners and had them move around the field telling people what was going on and where it was happening. Sounds silly, but you do what you have to do to get an event done.

The Air Force Museum kite festival has a really great P.A. system now and they are constantly helping me to make it the most accessible, convenient, and powerful announcing system on any kite field. But even this system had a few glitches in 1999. A new power system gave us problems and we had no sound for several hours. For one event we actually had someone run around the field with a boom box stereo, following the contestant so that we could complete a sport kite ballet competition. (Be prepared for the unexpected.)

Know your equipment! Know how to use the P.A. system. Know where all the controls are and what they do. If you're not really an "audio geek" make sure that you know who is or who to talk to when your system goes down. Many events have begun to provide kite festival announcers with a "sound person". That's someone who doesn't do anything else but run the P.A. system. They will play the tapes and CD's when you tell them and make sure that all is well with the equipment. (This arrangement is called heaven for announcers.) This extra help is not always available, so be prepared to grow several extra hands for the workload. AND just remember that while your hands are flying across those rows of knobs, dials, switches and microphones you're going to be talking to hundreds of people over many BIG, LOUD speakers!

The most important P.A. system control that you need to know about is the microphone ON - OFF switch. There are times to talk and there are times when you don't want anyone to hear what you have to say. Many VERY embarrassing moments have occurred on kite fields when the announcer did not realize that a microphone was broadcasting his or her voice to hundreds. There was an incident a while ago in Michigan where the announcer said some VERY unpleasant and tasteless comments about kite fliers on the field while the mike was ON and he didn't realize it. There were a lot of hurt feelings and a BIG problem from that simple mistake. If the microphone does not have an ON - OFF switch, make sure that you know where the mike volume control is and turn the volume OFF when you are not announcing.

BE SURE BRAIN IS ENGAGED BEFORE PUTTING MOUTH IN GEAR

The first thing you need to know about announcing is usually the last thing many people think about when they step up to the microphone. "What am I going to say?" When I first started announcing at kite events, Uncle Wilbert of the Black Swamp Air Force Kite Club told me about an announcer at an event in Malaysia he had attended.

The announcer he was referring to was the famous Shakib Gunn, who resides in the Far East. I have heard a lot about Shakib since then. He is one of the most proficient and interesting festival organizers and announcers there is, and much sought after for festival announcing duties. He was one of the first to add music to his informative and sometimes humorous commentaries at festivals he organized. I heard about one of Shakib Gunn's comments and I keep it in mind as an announcer at kite festivals: Sometimes the ground activities are as important as the activities in the sky.

Uncle Wilbert told me that he saw Shakib using a book that he brought with him to the microphone. This book contained information he used as the announcer, things like words for wind in different languages, informational items about local and international fliers, details about specific kites, even jokes.

This was the idea that spawned my Cue Book. Al's Cue Book is a three ring binder stuffed with things to talk about: reminders about the specific event I am at, info about the A.K.A. or the local kite clubs, those hundreds of words for 'wind', safety information and historical kite info, kite event announcements and descriptions of kite types. My Cue Book is basically a collection of "Tangents and Trivia" for an announcer.

Some pages of my Cue Book are word-for-word speeches that I give, and others are just basic outlines that prompt me on what to say. I consult the library for interesting "kite stuff". The AKA Newsletter "KITING" is a good source for info as well as KITELIFE. If the event I'm to announce at is a competition of some sort I have the rules in detail in my Cue Book so that I can announce parts of them as needed. Remember that, as you set up your Cue Book you will be talking to "civilians" as well as advanced and regular kite fliers. Gear your information and announcements to the specific listening audience you will have (e.g., Dual line sport kite contestants do not need to know how a kite is controlled, but spectators will!).

Include specific event information and current "trivia" in your Cue Book. I often pick up the daily local newspaper before arriving at an event. This gives me local "stuff" weather, trivia, news and sometimes just "silly" fill in announcements. (Just read your newspaper today and see if you can find something that would be of use as a kite event fill-in announcement. There are hundreds everyday.) I collect information in the form of brochures or handouts from the local kite clubs so that I can give them "accurate" plugs during the event.

I have used my Cue Book for about 10 years now and people have offered to buy it from me. Sorry! You'll have to make your own. Much of what is contained in my book is "stuff" that I have memorized and only need to glance at to be able to talk about. Several other Midwest kite announcers use "Al's Cue Book" when they fill in for me at events. It's pretty neat to be out on the field and hear an announcement by someone else and know that they are reading my "script" from my Cue Book. Kevin Adkins and John Cosby of Michigan are getting pretty good at that. Maybe I should just make a copy of my Cue Book for each of them as a present. (It will really ease my field workload, too.)

The basic idea behind the Cue Book is to give you something to say of interest when the microphone is ON. With a small amount of preparation before an event you will be able to inform both spectators and participants alike with your knowledge and expertise as an announcer and Master of Ceremonies.

O.K., WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?

Officially, the event announcer is not very high up on the responsibility list of many events. This can be a serious mistake. As the announcer, you will be the person that gets the event started. You will be the person who keeps the event on time. You will REALLY be the one to make it all happen.

This means that you will have to report for duty before anyone else. You will have to make sure that the P.A. system is on line and working at least one half hour before any scheduled events. This is your first (and ONLY) duty upon arrival. You won't believe how many events I have attended (but not announced at) where they discover they have P.A. system problems at the start of the first scheduled event. I don't know about any of you, but if I just finished driving twelve hours to get to a kite event, I DO NOT like standing around for an hour while someone figures out what plug to use to get the speakers to work!

My next task after making sure the P.A. is up and running is to "collect information". This means that I visit the head event coordinator and the special events staff (those in charge). I get a current day's event schedule from everyone. I ask them if they plan to adhere, exactly, to that schedule. These schedules are what you will start to work with. Tell the coordinators that you plan to announce according to those schedules, and if they have delays or problems to let you know. Otherwise the "show goes on" as planned. More than once I have had contestants waiting at a pilots' meeting "exactly" on time according to the schedule while the staff scrambles to keep up.

With this information from the event coordinators, I make up an ANNOUNCER'S EVENT SCHEDULE. This is a sheet that has times on it. (Mine is divided into five-minute increments.) This sheet will tell me when to tell everyone to be ready. For example, if a special event or competition is to take place at 10:00 a.m., I note on my Announcer's Event Schedule that I have to make an announcement for that event at 9:30 a.m. and again at 9:45 and 9:55. Some events will have longer preparation times for the participants; note this on your schedule.

For some events there are rules penalties for being late to a competition. Announce that rule to the contestants and tell them that it really is their responsibility to be on time. (If you tell them, they WILL come!)

Check periodically with event coordinators to see if they are ready for their next event. If they need extra time because of inevitable glitches that occur you should inform the participants of the delays (AND then stall for time with interesting trivia and announcements from your Cue Book.)

SO WHO'S PAYING FOR ALL THIS?

Every kite event that I have been to costs money to stage. This means there will be sponsors and financial support. Make an announcer's list of these contributors. Get details about the sponsors: who they are, why they helped, where they are, and how they can be thanked for their support. Remember that these people are supporting your hobby (and fun). Identify them and make sure that they know you are grateful. Make this happen with the P.A. system.

Place periodic notes on your Announcer's Schedule Sheet that remind you to do a "commercial" regularly for the event sponsors. This method is also helpful to event field vendors and those with kite sales booths on the field. Some larger events across the country will sell a "Sponsors Package" which will include field display space, ads in the event program, a space on the event T-shirt as well as regular and scheduled "commercial announcements" during the event.

WHO IS THAT OUT ON THE FIELD?

I feel that one of the most important announcements that a kite event announcer can make is to identify the individual fliers, their kites and their accomplishments as they are out on the field. Everyone likes to have his or her name mentioned. We all enjoy having our abilities, and kite creations talked about. We are all a little bit ego-oriented in this hobby, and that's OK.

When I started announcing I created what I call an ANNOUNCER'S INFORMATION CARD. Prior to the start of an event I ask all the participants and contestants to fill out one of these cards. The card contains information about the flier, name, home town, type of kite(s) flown, favorite kite activity, how long they have been flying kites, and a short comment about themselves. My cards are 5.5 inch by 8.5 inch and are three-hole punched to fit into a ring binder. This "Flier's Bio" book gets added to and updated throughout the season. These cards allow you to talk about or announce a flier or contestant out on the field accurately and informatively. When a contestant enters the competition field it is his or her "moment in the spotlight". You should announce them with accurate and interesting information.

One way in which I encourage fliers to fill out one of these cards is to tell them, "I will make stuff up about you if you fail to fill out a card." This "joke" does work, especially after I make up silly and irrelevant things about one of my good flying friends who is on the field. The Announcer Cards also allow other announcers to talk about people they don't know just by looking them up in the book. I have my Flier's Bio book tabbed alphabetically for ease of use and many fliers, without prompting, will approach me at the start of an event with changes they wish to make to their "Bio Cards".

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!

As difficult as it may be at times, you have to be the "voice of courtesy, kindness and fairness" when you use that microphone. During an actual competition you can announce participants with the help of their Announcer Information Cards. However, you have to be careful not to talk about anything the flier supplies you with that might seem to "prejudice" the judges before the flier's routine. Talk about how great the flier is or how many trophies they have already won AFTER hey are finished competing.

Remember also about that "Moment of Glory" -- be kind! Especially if something goes wrong (i.e. the contestant D.Q.'s, goes out of bounds, or crashes), be careful so that nothing you say may be perceived as "making fun of someone" out on the field, no matter what they do. Frequently after a flier problem, I will announce the specific rule that was involved. This will inform the public, and also allow the flier to exit the field gracefully. Remember a flying failure in front of a crowd is hard to handle; don't make it worse! You should also never second-guess the judges on the competition field. If you don't know what is occurring on the field or why, send a runner to find out or contact the Field Staff via radio for correct information.

ANNOUNCING AT A SPORT KITE EVENT.

I'm giving this one a section all its own. Fun Kite Flies are just that - FUN. But a competition is mostly business for the fliers and the staff. There is a series of special tasks and problems that can (and do) occur at competitions. This is the kind of event that really requires four or five hands and three separate brains to perform efficiently.

Precision sport kite competitions are run without the use of music, but you still don't want to clutter up the airwaves and ruin the contestant's concentration with distracting P.A. chatter. Only make important announcements. DO NOT refer to the contestant while they are flying. DO NOT comment on their performance until after it is over. Trust me! Just tell the crowd that a flier did a really cool trick axle or stunning 360 during their freestyle and you will have the rest of the contestants all over you for influencing the judges. In Ballet competitions you cannot interrupt the performance with any kind of announcement. (But you can and MUST make safety announcements should a dangerous situation arise during a music performance.)

There has been some discussion in Midwest sport kite event circles in the last several months that "play by play" commentary during sport kite precision competitions might increase the general public and spectators' appreciation and interest in this relatively "boring" area of dual line events. This is a touchy subject with fliers. There are only a few announcers who could do that running commentary without offending the fliers or prejudicing the judges. We plan to experiment with this idea during the coming Midwest sport kite season. The main problem I can foresee is that, unlike Golf or Football, a sport kite competition announcer is heard by the flier and the judges as well as the spectators. I promise to let you know how this experiment comes out in a later TANGENTS.

At current events I make a list of important announcements that will be made between contestants. Some of this will come from your Announcer's Schedule Sheet, but trust me, at every event 20 people will come up to you during a ballet competition and ask you to "Please announce this..." between fliers. Make these announcements quickly between contestants. Try not to delay the competition with "casual" announcements. This is especially true when the flier and the judges are ready, in light wind or "fly or die" situations.

OK, so here's what it's like to work the P.A. system alone at a Sport Kite Ballet Competition. First you have to tell the "civilians" what is going to happen on the field (See Cue Book - Sport Kite Ballet Competition). Then you have to announce the flier by using the Bio card. You must have his or her music cued and ready and you have to start it to play "exactly" when the field director tells you.

Break Time? Not hardly. Now you have to find the next contestant's CD or tape and have it ready. You have to glance at your Announcer's Schedule Sheet to see what event you should announce next, what sponsors to plug. Remember to remind the "civilians" about field boundaries and safety, field a question from someone about what event will be in the other field (like you'd know that one), get a request to help find the parents of a lost kid, file two tapes and a CD from contestants that are just bringing them to you.

OK, get ready. The routine on the field is over, the flier called OUT. "Ladies and Gentleman a big round of applause for...." (read flier's bio card). Make all those "between routines" announcements WHILE you are changing the CD or tape for the next flier. Find the next flier's bio card, THEN crank up the pressure a little when the Field Director tells you over the radio that flier #4 has scratched and flier #6 will fly next. New bio card??? Where's that other CD??? Someone lost her purse? Where are the score sheets for the next event???

I kind of like the pressure and the excitement generated at a Ballet event when I'm on the Microphone. I always rope off my own little area in the sound tent, with signs all over the place that say QUIET AROUND THE ANNOUNCER. I try to enlist the help of a sound person, that is, someone to take care of the tapes and CD's. I like to talk to the event Field Director ahead of time. I will frequently supply them with my own radio system so there will be no problems with communications or other distraction and delays.

A funny story about the pressure of announcing at music event competitions occurred last August in Dayton at the U.S. Air Force event. Mark Kunoff of Indiana was splitting air time with me on the P.A. Mark does electronic graphic arts and pre-press as a living and he was very good on the mike. When Sunday and the first of the Ballet competitions came around Mark volunteered to take the first event. I just wandered off to enjoy my break time.

Over the field speakers I could tell that Mark was having trouble. There were delays, not all Mark's fault, but I did hear problems. I went over to the sound tent and Mark had that look of panic in his eyes. He said, "Al, this is crazy, and a bit more than I expected." I took over for Mark with a small grin and told him that it was no problem. "Mark, you need to get ready for your own competition later this morning. No problem; I'll take over announcing for this event." I knew what the pressure could be like and let Mark go about his other business.

Later that day Mark Kunoff's competition event came up. When it was Mark's turn to fly I read from the section of his Announcer Information Card that asks, I LIKE TO FLY KITES BECAUSE: and Mark wrote, "I have a pressure and deadline oriented job and I come to the kite field to relax." Little did Mark realize that pressure can arrive at the strangest places and when you least expect it.

THE FLIGHT ORDER IS - KEN, MIKE, STEVE AND JENNIFER??

I don't announce at many events outside of the Midwest. I have never been asked to do any mike time in Wildwood. 1999 marked the first time I was offered the job of announcer at the Nationals in Muncie, Indiana. (I turned that one down.) I guess that I like Midwest local events because I know everyone who comes to them. I know their kite skills. I know what kites they like to fly. I know where they are from. I really don't use those flier info cards very much anymore.

We had one event last season in the Midwest that had a very small (zero) spectator turnout. I remember making the announcement, "Flight order for MIB is Ken, Mike, Steve, Pat and Jennifer. Judges are John, Terry, Gary, Vicki, and Vern." Everyone knew who I was talking about. Some events are not very big here. The fliers are one big family of kite friends who arrive at all the local events. We all know each other. We all know about each other already. These events are the ones I really enjoy announcing for. I can be a little more casual and announcing talk is more "freestyle".

I have a list of running jokes that only fliers in the Midwest would understand. Ask any AKA Midwest Conference competitor about Al's "You might be from Michigan if....." jokes! If I make a mistake here, no one yells or gets angry. We all try together to get the event to work. One time I actually got Michigan's Steve and Dan Wozniak's music switched in a competition. They both knew each other's music and almost let my mistake pass for the event. Neither was angry with me at all.

Have a good time with what ever you do on the flying field. When you are in control of the Public Address system you have a very large amount of control over how much fun everyone else has.

BUT - Remember what Nancy Zerlag said way back in 1982: "It really doesn't matter!".

ALSO - Remember what I've told you in the last couple of pages. In many cases "IT REALLY DOES MATTER."

IN THE NEXT TANGENTS AND TRIVIA - We will travel to the swamps of Northern Ohio and talk about a VERY weird and slightly different kind of kite event. Prepare yourselves for the "De-evolution of a kite festival". THE NORTH COAST STUNT KITE GAMES.